Episode notes
This week on That Was Us, we’re so beyond excited to be joined in studio by actor Eris Baker, who grew up playing Tess Pearson on This Is Us! Eris reflects on her journey from child actor to USC film production student, opening up about balancing school and set life, stepping into storytelling behind the camera, and how playing Tess shaped both her personal life and creative voice. In this episode, Eris chats about: * Booking This Is Us at just 10 years old after filming a Target commercial * Growing up on set alongside the cast and forming lifelong bonds with the Black Pearson family *…
That Was Us
by Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan, and Sterling K. Brown · English · Film & TV
This Is Us stars Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it. Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never bef
More from That Was Us
-
2 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
Chat Was Us | Siblings
This week on That Was Us, we’re trying something a little different. Inspired by the heart of This Is Us and where we currently are in the rewatch with Kevin and Randall’s reconciliation, the hosts kick off a brand new “Group Chat” format centered around one big theme: siblings! From birth order and family roles to rivalry, resentment, and deep love, Mandy, Sterling, and Chris open up about their own sibling dynamics and the ways those relationships continue to shape who they are today. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Their own sibling dynamics, age gaps, and the roles they played…
-
26 May 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
Kevin & Randall Reconcile | "Brotherly Love" (513)
This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 13: “Brotherly Love.” As Kevin travels to Philadelphia to finally confront the unresolved tension between himself and Randall, the episode explores race, identity, jealousy, and the complicated realities of growing up as brothers who experienced the same childhood very differently. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * The meaning behind Philadelphia being called the “City of Brotherly Love” * What real apologies and amends actually look like * Thoughtlessness vs. overt racism and how those conversations show up in…
-
19 May 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Jack's Proposal to Rebecca| "Both Things Can Be True" (512)
This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 12: “Both Things Can Be True.” As Kevin and Madison’s wedding approaches, the episode explores commitment, family expectations, and the complicated ways people learn to communicate with the ones they love. From Jack’s proposal plans for Rebecca in the past, to Kevin navigating unresolved tension with Randall in the present, the episode asks what it really means to show up for the people you care about. In this episode, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan chat about: * Asking for a partner’s parents’…
-
5 May 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
Uncle Nicky Meets The Twins | "One Small Step" (511)
This week on That Was Us, we’re breaking down This Is Us Season 5, Episode 11: “One Small Step.” Centered on Uncle Nicky’s journey to meet Kevin and Madison’s twins, the episode explores how the smallest steps can lead to the biggest changes—and how the stories we tell ourselves can shape an entire lifetime. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Media saturation, smartphones, and the idea of going back to a simpler “brick” device * The importance of setting intentional boundaries with technology—for yourself and your kids * How limiting choices can actually lead to more clarity and…
-
28 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Jennifer Morrison and Us | Cassidy Sharp
This week on That Was Us, we’re thrilled to be joined in studio by actor and director Jennifer Morrison, who brought Cassidy to life on This Is Us. Jennifer reflects on her journey from acting to directing, the challenges of transitioning from fantasy to grounded drama, and how This Is Us unexpectedly changed her life in a very real way. In this episode, Jennifer chats about: * Playing Cassidy across Seasons 4–6 and navigating her place within the Pearson family * The love quadrangle between Cassidy, Kevin, Zoe, and Nicky * Transitioning from Once Upon a Time to the grounded realism of This…
-
21 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Parenting Woes | "I've Got This" (510)
This week on That Was Us, we’re chatting about This Is Us Season 5, Episode 10: “I’ve Got This.” This episode explores the pressures of pride, money, and what it really means to provide for your family. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Survival vs. dreams and how priorities shift in different seasons of life * Lessons they learned from their time on set * Which This Is Us cast member couldn’t resist eating the prop food * Navigating finances, including making more money than your spouse * Deciding where to spend the holidays as your family grows They also break down the episode,…
-
6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 45 min
A Turn of Events | "Taboo" (607)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 6, Episode 7: Taboo. As the Pearsons gather for Thanksgiving, Kate and Toby confront lingering tension and Rebecca makes an important decision about who will care for her as her illness progresses. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * Their competitive nature and love of board games, especially Taboo * Their own relationships with food growing up and how those relationships have changed as parents * The challenges of navigating food and body image within families * The complicated dynamics of spending Thanksgiving with family…
-
29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
Chat Was Us | Marriage
This week on That Was Us…another favorite segment of the pod, Chat Was Us! This time, we’re talking about something at the heart of so many This Is Us stories: marriage, partnership, and what it means to build a life together. And for this conversation, Mandy, Sterling, and Chris have brought along their spouses! Together, the six of them get candid about love, commitment, compromise, and all the ways a marriage evolves over time. In this episode, the conversation covers: - How each couple knew they wanted to build a life together - Whether marriage was always something they imagined for…
-
22 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Beth Becomes a Mentor | "Our Little Island Girl: Pt 2" (606)
On today’s episode of That Was Us, we’re diving into Season 6, Episode 6: Our Little Island Girl, Part Two. Beth steps into her calling as a mentor, Kevin faces the consequences of his choices, and the Pearsons reckon with the people and experiences that have shaped who they’ve become. In this episode, the hosts chat about: * The TV shows and movies they’re watching right now, including Furious, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Widow’s Bay, Ted Lasso, and Good Luck, Don’t Die * Their thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, including Samantha Morton’s standout performance * The mentors…
-
15 Sep 2026 · 59 min
Lyric Ross and Us | Deja Pearson
This week on That Was Us, we’re joined in studio by Lyric Ross, who grew up before our eyes as Deja Pearson on This Is Us. From booking the role at just thirteen to navigating life and her career as a young adult, Lyric reflects on her years on the show, the challenges that shaped her, and the person she’s becoming beyond Deja. In this episode, Lyric chats about: • Moving back to Los Angeles after returning to Chicago following This Is Us and what she hopes to find in this next chapter • Getting her start as an actor in Chicago and the childhood moment that first sparked her love of…
